mgo.licio.us

"The face of the operation is Briatore (referred to exclusively in the film by his colleagues and angry, chanting detractors as "Flavio"), an anthropomorphic radish who spends most of his time at QPR plotting to fire all of the managers."

At press time, Harbaugh had sent Michigan’s athletic department an envelope containing a heavily annotated seating chart, a list of the 63,000 seat views he had found unsatisfactory, and a glowing 70-page report on section 25, row 12, seat 9, which he claimed is “exactly what the great sport of football is all about.”

"Georgia, from the beginning, and when I made my decision, they were in my top four, but really they were in the top two," Nauta said last week. "They have always been at the top for me. Really the proximity to home plays in their favor. One thing about Georgia and Florida State is that they both have great tight end coaches in Coach John Lilly and Coach Tim Brewster. I love to be around both of those guys. So Georgia has atmosphere, closeness to my family and a great tight end coach as advantages."

This is a great post, and now that the class is filling out and we're getting to "crunch time" (senior seasons) it's a much easier and more accurate read on the situation.

This is a very, very good class that will only get better, and will form a foundation for U-M's success going forward. It is not an elite class, but we'll have that after Harbaugh wins a signature game this year.

Not a single pick I can really argue with so far, except for maybe Peppers, and that could end up being a great pick. Cardale Jones is certainly gamble, but if we wins the job it was the best value in the draft by far.

Bravo. It's going to be hard for me to pick my favorite team this year...

5th-year players transfer all the time. Mostly, they transfer for PT reasons. Heitzman was aware of his PT situation, and did not initiate a transfer. Once Harbaugh told him he had to try out, he started looking.

Yes, PT was part of the decision. But the try out is what made him think about leaving, and I do believe it's fair to say that represents a lack of desire to compete for a roster spot. Do I blame him for feeling that way, after working for four years to earn his spot? No. Do I think that's the type of player Harbaugh wants in his program? No. Do I think that's the way I would have handled it? No.

The kid is not a jerk, a weakling, or a malcontent, as far as I know. Like I said, I wish him the best. But neither is he the type of competitor Harbaugh is looking for. I would have been upset if I had been in his shoes, too, but he had the opportunity to prove himself for a new coach with a demonstrated track record of success, and he chose instead to try his luck at a lesser program that is likely to offer more PT.

Magnus, I've upvoted lots of your comments (I am in favor of empathy and being reasonable about a kid's choices), but you keep asserting that Heitzman transferred because he thinks he can get more playing time elsewhere. While that's part of the equation and I certainly hope he can get more PT at a lesser program, the fact remains that the catalyst for his transfer was that he had to try out. A fair and reasonable conclusion is that he did not want to compete for his roster spot at U-M. And that is a completely understandable position to take, and also a completely understandable reason I don't think Harbaugh would have wanted him on the team.

But please, stop asserting that playing time was the reason he transferred. Before he heard about the try out, he knew what his playing time looked like. He could have decided to transfer then. But he didn't. He decided to look around after he heard he had to try out.

I don't have any ill feelings towards Heitzman. I don't think he made a bad decision. I think he made a decision that I would not have made, and that it indicates that his competitive drive is not what Harbaugh is looking for.

"Obviously, (Jim) Harbaugh coming in was going to change things at Michigan — do things his way,"Heitzman told the Dispatch. "But I didn't know if I wanted to try out. That definitely took me off-guard. I was bummed out."

The try out is why he looked elsewhere. Without the tryout, he would not have. Like I said, I have no problem with him looking for what he believes is a better situation for him, but if the reason he's doing it is because he's not sure he wants to try out, a fair and reasonable conclusion is that he did not want to compete for a roster spot. I understand that sentiment, but it's not how I would have handled it, and it's not the kind of mentality I want on the team.

Everyone at U-M has 4-year scholarships. NOT 5-year scholarships. If you're not a 5th-year, your scholarship, and therefore your place on the roster, is guaranteed (they can ask you to accept a medical waiver).

Everyone is auditioning for playing time; the 5th-year guys have to earn their scholarship, and this is standard practice almost everywhere. Calling it a "tryout" might sound more harsh, but it's actually just an honest statement of most schools' policy on 5th-year guys.

You're conflating two issues here and missing my point. It's fine for Heitzman to seek an opportunity he perceives is better at Ohio. I have no problem with that at all. But he would have seen that Butt was a better player whether he had to audition for his spot at U-M or not. He could have chosen to transfer (like a lot of 5th years do, ie Blake Countess) based on his desire for a better opportunity, and not because he was bummed about having to try out.

From Heitzman's comments, it sounds like the tryout impelled him to seek opportunities elsewhere. To me, that's the sign of some one who did not want to compete for their spot on the team. It sounds like, absent the tryout, Hetizman stays at Michigan. That is VERY different than just deciding to transfer because you believe there is a better opportunity elsewhere.

But the reason matters. Heitzman did NOT leave for playing time reasons--he would have made that decision if there had been no tryout. He is quoted as saying he "didn't know if [he] wanted to try out."

The tryout prompted his decision to look elsewhere, no the playing time. I'm sure playing time was a factor, but if the idea of a tryout makes you look elsewhere, then yes, I do question your competitive drive.

What I don't question is his emotional reaction of, "that sucks" to the idea of tryout. I would have felt the same way. But a tryout would not have prompted me to consider transferring.

There is no chance any of those guys would have transferred or done anything but go out and prove themselves. No one likes having to try out, but everyday in college athletics is an audition, and true competitors would take the challenge.

I'm not arguing it wouldn't suck to hear you have to "audition" as a 5th-year, but damn if I wouldn't have gone out and done my best to prove myself.

It would be tough to hear that you have to earn your spot, after four years of hard work.

That said, any player not up to that challenge should transfer. When I played college sports I always knew that everyday was an audition, and that I had to earn my minutes. THERE IS NO WAY I would have transferred.

I feel bad for Heitzman, but if he wasn't up to the challenge, I'm glad he's somewhere else.

The only problem is that it makes each position have equal value. BiSB won with this system, but Ace's team would have beaten him in a game, IMO. Have to look at positional value as well, which is why we have JT Barrett, who may not even start for OSU, as a legitimate #1 pick.

Hope you're right. One thing we know for certain: starting in 2016, whoever wins the QB job will have earned it by besting top-flight competition. So whether it's Gentry, Malzone, Morris, Speight, O'Korn, or even Peters or Vic Viramontes, it's going to be a really good player who has won the job over other really good players.

Come on, Don. I love Denard as a player and person, but you're comparing two very different eras of football. Denard was not a very good passer. JH was. Who would you rather have throwing the football? JH would have put up monster passing numbers in today's college football, was a first round pick at QB and a successful NFL QB.

That said, I agree the poster's criticism was a bit extreme--Denard's arm did a few great things for U-M while he was here.

The color previously labeled "Iowa Official Yellow" is in the middle of yellow-orange range, as well as being the middle choice in the data set. It is a statistically proven fact that human beings are most likely choose the middle option when presented with several choices.

That said, a lot people just don't realize (or maybe even like) how orange real maize is.

One of my all-time favorite Wolverines. If he could have stayed healthy, I believe he would have been one of the best RBs in school history. I will never, ever forget his game vs. OSU in 2003. One of the best individual performances in school history.

OSU - 70%. Wanted to go lower here to leave more room for the other bastards, but I just can't do it. I can't root for these guys no matter what the circumstances are. If OSU had to beat anyone--let's say Maryland--and it would put us in the CFB Playoff, I still couldn't root for them.

MSU - 20%. Dantonio and MSU have the most ridiculous complex in the history of God. I hate them, but still can't quite take them seriously, even though I know I should.

ND - 5%. Seriously dropped now that the series is over and since we pretty much owned them even when we sucked. To hell with them.

It's not about a fashion contest. I'm not sure what line of work you're in, but dressing appropriately not only helps to create an impression, but also helps get you in the frame of mind to perform at a high level.

In my experience as a coach (and player), this absolutely holds true with players. We got our team new uniforms for district playoffs and went out and played the best game of our season. Obviously this is just anecdotal evidence and I do not believe that uniforms = success, but the point is that the unis did hype the kids up walking into the locker room with each player having his new uniform hanging at his locker was a special moment for them, and for us as coaches.

When I was a player, uniforms were the last thing on my mind. But it sure did feel good when we got new ones, especially if they had a cool design.

I seriously, seriously doubt that we will get any recruits just becuase Nike makes our stuff, but I do believe that having Nike as our sponsor is more attractive and just adds another positive for most (not all) recruits.

This a long way of saying that if having Nike as our sponsor is a positive in the eyes of most kids, why not do it?

Hard to go wrong on NW lower Michigan. I believe the Leelanau Peninsula is the best... Homestead or Glen Arbor area are amazing and right next to the dunes. Leland is a great little town. Traverse City if you want a more urban feel. Even Suttons Bay and Northport are great. Empire is another underrated spot. Basically, find a spot you like on M22.

The Tyus Battle comparison is spot on. It's important to note that the bulkiest group of decommitments were guys looking for greener pastures.

Alabama hasn't been hurt by Saban's style, which is that a scholarship offer is really just an invitation to try out for the 'Bama football team. Much the same could be said for the rest of the SEC. I'd much rather have Harbaugh pulling offers or stopping communication when recruits still have ample time to flip than have him bring kids in and send them packing with a forced transition year.

It's clear that the a lot of kids do not believe that a commitment is actually a commitment, just a way to hold their place in a class. But that doesn't excuse dishonesty from coaches.

Sadly, it has gotten to the point that this is how the game is played. Hoke was a successful recruiter (based on the rankings) and this article really brings into focus why he would not allow committed players to visit other schools: he believed in honoring commitments.

We can't have things both ways. If we, as Michigan fans, want a coach with a flexible recruiting philosophy (unlike Hoke) we're also going to conceed that there will be some less than honorable tactics used to get the possible class on board. Let's not pretend it's honorable, but let's also accept that's how the game is played, and we want to win.

Zerodark is right...every school that's winning is using questionable "roster management" practices. It sucks, and I don't like it, but it's the current market and the recruits are no more honorable than the schools.

While everything you said is true, I would prefer that Michigan only offer a top-level experience, even if that means limiting the size of the camp.

That said, this camp is not a reflection of Fisch (or Drevno's) play-calling or organizational skills, as I seriously doubt either had much of a hand in the logistics and neither was calling plays. Harbaugh obviously put his stamp on the day and focused on the top talent. I can't argue with that approach, but, like I said, it would be nice if they would limit the size.

Unfortunately, this "second-best win" thing just goes to prove the "Little Brother" complex even further.

U-M's record was worse than Maryland, Rutgers, and Nebraska. Heck, even Penn State finished bowl eligible and with a better record, though they were behind us in the conference standings.

Beating a 5-7 team and counting it as your second-biggest win is just silly. But even more silly is that even after all of their effort to be noticed, MSU will never be more than our second-biggest rival, and perhaps only that because the ND chickens bailed.

When we won the Outback Bowl in 2002, did we put the score of our victory over the 5-7 Spartans? Can you imagine ANY situation where we would put the score of a win over a 5-7 MSU team on our championship rings? Would NEVER happen.

Dude is not as fast as Shoelace, and not as elusive, but he's a close comparison when it comes to excitement. He is definitely my current favorite 2016 commit. I believe he will make big plays no matter where he ends up.

He just makes plays. His reel is full of broken plays turned into big gains from his athleticism, competitiveness, and great arm.

Obvious troll is obvious. Our class is fine and getting better. Just got a top MI prospect in Onwenu. Only an idiot would believe Harbaugh would win every battle, and I wager our class will comparable to or better than MSU when it's all over. Silly troll.

There has been a lot of alarm about recruiting on the board, and there is no good reason for it. Harbaugh just needs a little time. This summer will be big, and I expect we'll have a Top-15 class before it's all said and done. Patience...

There may be more attrition. Green, Smith, and Isaac were all highly-ranked recruits and it's probable one of them is pushed out of the regular rotation. Furthermore, there may be attrition at other positions...

There is a definite possibility that Kingston Davis, who has offers from almost everyone and interest from everyone else, will flip.

Harbaugh has a history of taking great athletes and moving them around. He is looking for the best football players--almost regardless of position--and will find a place for them on the field. This used to be how everyone recruited (before 17-year-olds were almost 300 lbs. and clearly established as linemen for life) and Harabugh has had success with it. High School RBs are often the best athletes on their team, and many could have collegiate success at RB, FB, WR, TE, LB, S, and even DE or DB. Expect to see lots more position changes than we saw with Hoke. Having these mulit-purpose players also allows you to cover for unexpected (and expected) attrition.

Valenti can't do math. $14,100/12 = $1,175, not $1,700. Michigan State education hard at work there.

Valenti has no idea what he's talking about. Entitled? Valenti is 100x more entitled than Jabrill. Anyone who knows Peppers' back story would never call him entitled.

Don't ever, EVER think that Valenti is anything but a bad journalist and a Sparty slappy. He has no concern for anything other than pleasing his idiot fanbase that probably believes his BS, because they are also too dumb to check his math or his "facts."

This is bad--horribly bad--but it still might have been a more productive recruiting class than the 2010 offensive version. Only Gardner would wind-up a consistent starter, and Dileo was the only other significant contributor.

If our defense can be as good as it was last year (and it could be better), then we just need a competent offense to get us to 8 wins.

What's clear is that a healthy Rudock is, at least, a competent QB. He may not be a game-breaker like Henne or Henson, but he may be able to manage a game and take what the defense gives him. I do believe we'll struggle vs. great defenses (like OSU) but 9 wins seems plausible, with at least 8 probable with Rudock at the helm.

"Really, there is no body of objective evidence, other than that, to indicate he has earned that offer."

That statement is patently FALSE. The kid has camped at U-M, has coaches who have seen him practice and play, and has played in JV games. Just because he doesn't have film that's publicly available or a high school stat sheet doesn't mean there is no objective evidence to indicate that he has earned the offer.

Here is a correct statement: "I can't find any objective evidence on the internet to indicate that he has earned the offer. Therefore, I will assume there was no reason other than his legacy status, despite the fact that his brother did not recieve an offer an is paying his way, and despite the fact that his coaches and our coaches do have knowledge of him. I will make that assumption because I am entitled to an opinion about everything that happens no matter how it makes a kid feel or how it might affect our football program."

Do you want to be the guy saying that last statement? That's what this board should be asking itself.

We are grateful to have you! We need more enormous, athletic, committed young men on our team.

As far as everyone who is saying that this offer doesn't make sense...don't you think it's possible that Harbaugh knows more than you do? Carter has camped at Michigan and has obvious Michigan connections. HS stats for a sophomore aren't everything.

In my opinion, the biggest problem with the Legends jerseys was that there were too many of them. Dudes that were most certainly not close to being legends were wearing them, and that watered-down the mystique.

Basically, we should only retire numbers of dudes who are legends (Heisman or some other equally amazing feat) and if those jerseys are brought back into circulation, it should only be for players that have already demonstrated they have a realistic shot at repeating those amazing feats, and that would be at the HC's discretion.

The problem with the Legends jerseys, and even the #2 jersey, during the Hoke era is that it was WAY too easy to get one. Not one of the players wearing a "Legends" jersey turned out to be anything close to a legend, perhaps save Jeremy Gallon--but even that is a stretch.

Welcome to the family, Blake! We are fortunate to have you and look forward to bringing the B1G championship back to A2 where it belongs.

GO BLUE!

P.S. - Negging a "Hello" post should be cause for a ban. I'm sure I don't understand all of the squabbling that goes on around here, but no matter what you think of a poster, don't neg the news that we've added a valued member to our family. You can find other places to relieve your angst.

First of all, I think they are very close--Bolden is not way ahead of Morgan. I think they are very different players who offer different things. I'd prefer Bolden. The previous staff (which had pretty good defensive chops and was led by Greg Mattison) agreed with me.

Morgan is more consistent. He fills his gap, stops the ball, and does his job.

Bolden is more athletic. On every play, he has a lower floor and a higher ceiling than Morgan. Bolden can blitz, come off the edge, and cover more field. He blew-up a screen in the Outback Bowl that really illustrates my point: Morgan could not have made that play on his best day, but even after he got there, I was worried Bolden might miss the tackle--Morgan would not have given me that cause for concern.

This is pretty nit-picky--I like both guys and only incrementally prefer Bolden. On 3rd and 1, give me Morgan. But Bolden can do things that Morgan can't, and I would slightly prefer his diverse skillset.

We'll see what this staff thinks. I'd like to see both on the field, but Bolden's diverse skillset gives him the slight edge in my mind.

The secondary will be fine, especially after Lyons joins. The only remaining concern on defense is at DE, where we'll be okay, though we might not have any gamebreakers.

Offense is a different story...two or three OL spots, one WR, the RB, and...oh yeah, the QB--all up for grabs. And not in a good way like the #3 safety (Thomas, Hill, and Clark all looked good). More like when you go to the grocery store looking for a ripe avocado and they're all bright green so you just take the one that you can barely press into with your finger but you're still not sure if you just pushed harder on that one.

I hope Harbaugh, Tolbert, and Co. help the boys work wonders this summer, because wonders are needed on offense.

Ryan Glasgow will either start or be heavily in the rotation at NT. He was one of our best players last year. If we ever see the draft order, it will come out that he went very high. The fans missed this one in a big way.

Also, Erik Magnuson is a versatile player that has more talent and experience than a few guys above him. I'd put him ahead of Dawson, LTT, and Braden.

Other than that, I think we did a pretty darn good job. I think Bolden is ahead of Morgan and I think Drake is ahead of De'Veon, but that's picking nits.

TE - Blue. Probably our two best pass-catchers, and one of our best overall players in Jake Butt.

OL - Blue. But looking at both sides makes me realize we have plenty of good players at OL; if Maize had JBB, it would pretty much be a toss-up.

DL - Blue. Despite lacking a DE, Glasgow, Henry, and Wormley are three of our best DLs. Maize has no starters there, unless Marshall blows up.

LB - Slight edge to Maize. Bolden and Gedeon are two of our best. Morgan and RJS are just a notch below. Gant might be a hair better than Wangler, but that's pure sepculation.

CB - Blue. This is one of the widest gaps, and it will be fun to watch Blue's CBs match-up against Maize's WRs.

S - Maize by a hair. Wilson is steady and Thomas is explosive, but Peppers, Hill and Clark are a stronger trio.

At first glance, I thought Maize looked better...upon further review, I like Blue's chances to win. Stronger on the lines and no real weaknesses on defense. If Isaac and Shallman can move the ball, they'll be okay only have two proven receiving threats in Darboh and Butt. Maize will need its WRs to outplay Lewis, Countess, Wilson, and Thomas to win. I'm not sure their O-Line will be able to hold-up against Blue in the running game.

The Hoke era should have taught us one important thing: In a pro-style offense, the team goes as the O-Line goes. We're only in spring, but has Drevno picked-up where 'Nuss left off (a competent running game) or do I have to worry about TFLs being an official play call again?

We have the bodies; we'll see if these coaches can get them to execute.

I'm not worried about WR, and I'm not sure why we would be. Poor O-Line and QB play--not to mention scheme--has distorted that position's production. I believe Darboh, Chesson, Norfleet, Ways, Canteen, and even Jones, Cole, and Dever give us plenty of options. Maybe there's not star, but there's a competent group there.

RB would be my #2 position to watch...we have talent, but I'm real curious to see how it translates in this system.

What's our ceiling? Harbaugh has demonstrated that he can win games against superior teams, so is our ceiling a spot in the CFB playoff?

My prediction is now 9 wins; our schedule is pretty tough, even with our rivals coming to us this year. Utah, Oregon State, and BYU are all non-conference threats, with Maryland, Minnesota, and Penn. State joining MSU and OSU as potential losses. That said, I think we'll only drop three of those eight games.

It's awfully hard to put a ceiling on this team, but I'd say 11 wins is on the edge of reason, and going undefeated is implaubsible.

As Brian said, this is a massive relief. Our biggest question mark just changed dramatically: our floor at the QB position is a competent B1G starter. If Rudock doesn't win the job this fall, it's because we have a pretty darn good alternative.

While this transition lacks a Denard-type star, it's not a question of if but rather who.

QB is the biggest question mark and potentially limiting factor on this team's ceiling. We really have no idea who's going to start, and we won't have a much better idea after Saturday. But I'm not too worried about any position other than QB, and possibly TE.

Here's why:

RB - Isaac, Green, Smith, Johnson. All of those guys are more than capable of being successful starting RBs, and all should benefit from the new system. My guess is that whoever can stay healthy wins the job, and looks good.

WR - Darboh and Chesson and are almost certainly your day one starters. Ways is probably their biggest threat. Norfleet, Canteen, and Dever could all come on in the slot, and Canteen might get some time outside, though he's still pretty small. Cole probably won't redshirt, but I doubt he's ready to be an every down guy. But even guys like Jones and Dukes that have been around for awhile could suprise.

TE - Might be our thinnest position. Butt is the only proven guy here, and we have to hope he stays healthy, because the drop-off is big. Williams is a blocker who can't block very well. Hill is a question mark after the injury. Bunting is still growing into his size. Winovich was a LB. I'm a bit concerned here.

FB - There will be true fullbacks. Kerridge is primed to blow-up, and Houma should be good if he can return healthy. Shallman is listed at RB but could make an impact here. Pallante has the right body to make an impact as a blocker. Harbaugh will make one of these guys (or more) into a LB-killer.

O-Line - Magnuson, Samuelson, Fox, LTT, Braden, Kalis, Cole, Bars, Dawson, Glasgow, Kugler, JBB. All of those guys were either talented recruits or have demonstrated they have some ability on the field. There's a starting five in there. It will take some time for them to gel and really learn the scheme through experience, but this group will be good enough to compete with just about anyone by season's end. Unfortunately, there is one team in our conference that will probably be too much for them...

D-Line - The new system will utilize talented players wherever it can. Taco, Mario, Marshall, Wormley, Glasgow, Mone, Hurst, Henry--those guys all have starting potential. Godin, Pipkins, Poggi, and Strobel are adequate depth guys, and Pip could be more if he can stay healthy for 10 minutes.

LB - Maybe no stars, but loads of good players: Bolden, Morgan, JRIII, Gedeon, McCray, RJS, and even Gant is getting some hype. Furbush and Wangler could surprise. I don't see an all-B1G guy, but there is plenty of depth and talent here.

CB - Lewis, Countess, and Stribling are almost certainly your top three. Peppers might play some nickel. That's four good options. Richardson apparently looked good before injury, and someone like Dawson could surprise.

S - Peppers and Wilson? This could very well be our best starting position group on the entire team. Hill, Clark, and even Watson could figure in here.

The point is that other than QB, we have starting talent and even adequate depth (other than TE). There will be stars...we just don't know who yet. I'm excited to see who rises to the top of the meritocracy.

And I would that coaches are a generally tight-knit community; relationships aren't going to vanish because a guy goes to the NFL. If they trusted Harbaugh before, they will trust him now, unless he gives them reason not to.

HS coaches are almost always looking out for the best interest of their players. Access to a school like Michigan and a staff like ours--led by Harbaugh--is a good thing for their players and their programs, and they will want to rekindle that relationship with Harbaugh. Sending your player to a great school that can also prepare him for the NFL is a win for you, the player, and your program...HS coaches want to see their players go as far as possible, and to be able to say, "You know who So-and-So rookie of the year in the NFL is? He played his HS ball here and got a degree from Michigan."

I seriously doubt JH's time away from college football has had much of negative impact on his connections, and I believe those bonds will be re-formed quickly.

The real problem is location--a lot of kids say, "distance isn't a factor," but most end-up committing close to home. Like Carr, if Harbaugh can get a couple players a year from CA, he's doing well. Ditto for Texas and the southeast. If we're pulling 6 elite or very good players per year from those regions, chances are we've got plenty of talent--that would be 20-30 of our total roster in addition to the talent we get from the B1G footprint.

This is a lot harder than it should be. We need more standout players, and I suspect that by B1G season, this will be much easier (and in the future). In a draft, of course, a lot depends on what the other team does, but in terms of overall value I would load-up on defense (assumes all players are healthy):

Joe Bolden - Captain of the defense. Has the experience, athleticism, and leadership skills to get the most out of his team.

Mason Cole - Value is inflated because there are no other "sure things" on the O-line. Has positional flexibility as well, and with G. Glasgow gone, this guy's importance can't be overstated.

Ryan Glasgow - I'll take performance over hype, thank you very much. This former walk-on will be the anchor of Michigan's 2015 defense.

Jake Butt - A sure thing on an offensive squad that doesn't have many of those. Butt can block and catch and is a match-up nightmare for any LB on the team.

Jourdan Lewis - Last year's #1 CB is this year's #1 CB.

Jabrill Peppers - I love the hype, too, but can't put him any higher until he performs.

Desmond Morgan - Limited athletically, but still a great LB.

Amara Darboh - Came on during the second half of last season and is a proven offensive weapon.

Jarrod Wilson - This guy is massively underrated by the board. He can play center field and allow Peppers to do his thing in man coverage and run support.

Willie Henry - Mercurial talent that is unblockable when he is in top form.

Honorable mentions:

Smith, Green, Isaac -- I see them as virtually interchangeable at this point, so I wouldn't be in a hurry to draft one.

James Ross III and Ben Gedeon -- There is little doubt that LB is our deepest and best position. McCray and RJS deserve some recognition here, too.

Kap and Hack are examples of what happens when your offensive line play declines precipitously. Hackenberg didn't become a ba QB as a sophomore and Kaepernick didn't become a bad QB because he's a year older. The O-line play directly impacts the QB and both guys faced softer protection this year. That's not all there is to it, but that's a big part of it.

If this is half true, I'm excited. HAIL-YEA, the defense should be ahead of the offense at this point. It is much easier to pick up scheme on defense than it is on offense where timing, precision, and chemistry play a bigger role. Not to mention that we have no established QB, very little WR experience, and a very different coaching style on the O-Line. On top of all that, our defense is simply better--they've been coached better and played better for years, and there is more experience.

If our staff is as good as we think it is, this won't be a huge issue. What makes me say that? OSU's defense this year featured 13 players on the two-deep with one or no years of experience. Their safeties each had one season of experience.

Would it be nice if the recruiting classes would smooth out a bit to prevent this in the future? Yes and no. Having years where you are loaded with seniors does seem to correlate to national success, so it may be worth having some lean years.

But like I said, Saban, Meyer, and even Fisher have demonstrated the ability to reload each year. Harbaugh will do the same.

The article also points out the running game's success against Ohio State, which was extremely encouraging when you consider how strong OSU's defense had gotten by that point.

But to answer your question, I dont know. I'd love to see someone research that, but it won't be me. Anecdotally, I do remember offenses finishing strong and then looking better the following year, like MSU '13.

There is no way Urban didn't know about Drayton's departure. Drayton must know that if he even wants to coach college football again that he needs to be open and honest with his head coaches--especially guys that the influence that Meyer does.

This was dirty, slimy, under-handed. And if U-M does it, I'll say the same thing.

I'm not going to give Meyer the blanket label of "slimy," but OSU played this kid, and they should rip-up the LOI if he asks them to.

And if he does, I am fine with that, because I think it indicates that there are things that are more important to him than football. Don't get me wrong--I've lived in LA and Westwood is an amazing spot--I can't blame the kid for loving it. But Harbaugh's system is proven to be an NFL TE factory.

I wish him the best and hope he goes Blue, because I honestly believe Michigan gives him a far better chance of becoming an elite TE and a high NFL draft pick.

Your comparisons are completely invalid. First of all, no one has any idea who (if anyone) deflated the balls, or who ordered it. It's more likely Tom Brady is guilty than Bill Belichick, but that's not the story out there.

Second, if you want to compare, let's use a valid comparison. The Seahawks break contact and pass interference rules all the time, and don't get flagged every time. Should they be fined and docked draft picks? They are doing it in plain sight, same as the footballs. This isn't cheating on a test, it's an open, obvious practice that the refs had the opportunity to stop AFTER EVERY SINGLE PLAY. And comparing this to putting lives in danger by driving drunk? SMH. That's beyond ridiculous.

Finally, the balls were re-inflated at halftime, and the Pats proceeded to annihilate the Colts. This game's outcome had NOTHING to do with deflated balls. ZERO.

Honestly, the Dallas Cowboys and Detroit Lions were hurt by far more egregious officiating errors, and there was no recourse. Give me a break. If this wasn't Belichick's team that has a chance to be the most successful ever, then it wouldn't be a story.

To answer your one reasonable question: YES. Blame does get shifted if someone is paid to enforce the rules. As my other examples above indicate, it is the referee's job to make sure the rules are followed. That's why we have refs. That's why you don't call your own fouls in professional sports. If you were ever an athlete or coach in a terribly officiated game, then you understand that bad officiating tilts the scales, and, if properly enforced, rules are broken far, far less often.

Have you ever played a sport and broken a rule? Ever fouled someone in basketball and not had the foul called? What did you do? Did you tell the ref to stop the game and give the guy some free throws?

The starting spots are all wide open with the new staff, but CB seems to be particularly open. Iman Marshall is very much what Durkin looks for in a CB, and I think he could win the job and start opposite Lewis by B1G season, if not from day one.

Countess was average at best on the outside last year, and I don't see the aggression that Durkin's CBs played with at Florida. I think we'll see a renewed emphasis on speed at all positions, and Peppers playing that HSP role that UF used last year sounds perfectly delightful.

This defense will, schematically, somewhat resemble Mattison's 2011-2013 units, but it will have a very different feel with personnel and execution.

This whole thing is such a joke. If the balls were deflated to a point that would have made a difference, then the referees are the ones that are at fault here. They handle the balls after EVERY play, and if they couldn't tell they weren't properly inflated, then they should be reprimanded, not the Patriots.

Anyone who has played any football can immediately tell--just from gripping a football--if the ball is properly inflated.

This is more about media attention and making a stroy than anything, but if there is a story, it should be the continued incompetence of NFL officials.

I think this is the best part of the story...honestly reminded me of Hoke (in a good way):

On Friday, he recalled a meeting he had earlier in the day with Michigan walk-on linebacker Nick Volk, and used it as an example for how excited he is to coach this current group. "He's a linebacker, wants to play fullback, he walked on at Michigan -- the only place he applied to," Harbaugh said. "I asked him how his experience has been, he says it's been A++ -- phenomenal. I asked how the walk-ons are treated here 'oh, great coach, it's great. I've had conversations with every guy on this team, and they treat us all the same.' Any regrets coming here? 'Not really, coach.' "It was so positive and so good. And to be back in this kind of atmosphere ... Pro guys are great to be around. But they've already got their friends and they've already got their favorite coaches and teachers. To be back in this kind of atmosphere, around a guy like Nick Volk ... I take that very seriously and I really look forward to being a coach and a teacher (at Michigan)."

Baxter was hired strictly has a ST coach. He might help out a bit on offense, but we need another full-time body there.

I was NOT implying that Manning would be another RB coach, I was pointing out that the dude has coached lots of different positions. Maybe he gets named the TE coach, but probably not. Harbaugh wants proven excellence.

If Zordich is hired, it seems likely that Manning is out, but he has wiggled his way into coaching other positions, so we'll see.

We are getting a guy who just spent two years as an NFL OC, and two years before that as a college OC (at Miami [YTM]) to be our WR coach and help with our passing game, since our OC's strength is obviously running and the OL.

That is awesome, and adds even more cache to the "Come to Michigan and we'll prepare you for the NFL" pitch. SEVEN (!!!) of our ten coaches (according to guessochart) have NFL coaching experience. The guys that don't are Durkin (a college superstar with a record of coaching guys into the NFL), Baxter (a ST guru who is one of the best at his role in the country), and Dougherty. Heater played in the NFL and Morton played and coached in the NFL seem like our other options, and would only add to the "we can get you to the NFL" credibility.

Also, Harbaugh is fanatical about his staff...if Fisch didn't fit what he wanted, he wouldn't be hired.

These schemes are, in many ways, similar to what Mattison was running prior to this season (which is not surprising, since Durkin was a GA with Mattison at ND in 2003-2004). Durkin's genius is not just in his play calls, but in his use of personnel. He seems to keep a fast free-hitter on the field.

I'm interested to see the ECU breakdown, because the Pirates racked-up yardage against UF in the bowl game.

Expect most, if not all, of the staff to be introduced at the meeting tomorrow. The meeting has been delayed (was supposed to be today), and I believe that was done so that Harbaugh could finish getting the staff together.

At a minimum, I would guess that Durkin and Drevno are there, and probably Mattison, Wheatley, and whomever has been hired as the S&C coach (Tolbert?), who will need to get winter conditioning started immediately.

I'll say this: Hackett could not have done any better in pursuing Harbaugh than he has. The offer is as generous as reasonability could possibly allow, the timing is perfect (49ers are out of the playoffs and the NFL can't yet contact JH), and it was kept relatively secret until the offer was made--at which poing either Harbaugh's agent or someone else was going to leak it anyway.

If we don't get Harbaugh, it won't be because we blew the process. It will be because Harbaugh simply was never going to come.

Here's my bold prediction: Either Dan Mullen or an elite name (think Bob Stoops, John Harbaugh, Sean Payton, Jim Mora) will be the next coach at U-M if we don't get Harbaugh. I guarantee you a back-up plan is in place, and that it's with a name that most of us would be satisfied with, if not downright pleased. This will be done by 12/29, and we'll probably know with reasonable certainty by 12/25.

It's only been three years since we won a BCS bowl. We beat Florida in the 2008 Capitol One Bowl. We went to the 2007 Rose Bowl. While we haven't won the conference since 2004, This program has still had some bright spots and plenty to celebrate.

I am willing to bet that every member of Fern's class will win a B1G title and/or a New Year's bowl.

The current roster is loaded. This is not a "rebuilding" job like RR and Hoke faced. While finding the right QB may be a challenge, there is an excellent defense, RBs, O-Line, and plenty of receiving talent.

Other than QB, safety is probably the only position at which you can even make an argument that help is needed.

Ohio State just won the B1G with a back-up (during the season) and a back-up's back-up (in the championship) playing QB.

Gary Anderson left Wisconsin because they won't let him recruit the way he wants to and they won't pay his assistants.

Barry Alvarez will keep that program from reaching its potential by being a cheapskate.

As for OSU having anything to do with it...now Anderson is at a low-level Pac-12 team and has to compete with Oregon, USC, UCLA, Arizona, ASU...it's not better than the B1G West, which may be the easiest Power 5 division in all of college football.

No, he said he was afraid losing to Urban 4/5 times would cost him his job.

The fact is that the TEAM (if not the program) is in very good shape--loaded with talent that was coveted by top programs across the country.

A coach that wouldn't want a top-tier salary with resources for top-tier assistants, some of the best facilities in the country, the Big House, and the Michigan brand to recruit to...that's a coach I DO NOT WANT.

His reserch "confirmed" what he wanted to hear...have you ever heard of confirmation bias?

This looks like a pretty meager search, and the "secrecy" aspect only succeeded because the people of Nebraska don't know what Eichorst looks like. The whole thing sounded pretty lame, and resulted in hiring a 61-year-old who has won fewer than half of his games in the last five years at a program he spent 12 years building.

I read the article hoping to find some cool technique or clever gamesmanship. What I learned was that if you're the AD at Nebraska and you wear a baseball cap, no one will notice you.

This is exactly how I hope Hackett does NOT conduct his search--a personal fixation on a candidate. Do your research, interview, and get references. Work with a search firm. Do it right, even if it take a little time.

But if Jim Hackett walked into DTW wearing a baseball cap, I have ZERO doubt that the press would be on it and the "secret" search would be blown. And if Jim Hackett just hires a guy because he liked him 12 years ago, I would be furious.

I know some people will disagree with this, but it's true: Urban Meyer's coaching genius is not in his system (which tons of schools run). It's in his ability to communicate with his players, inspire them, and get them to do what needs to be done. If you read interviews with former Urban players, they basically say, "Coach Meyer got me to do things I didn't think I could do."

Chip Kelly's success is similar. While both use a scheme they believe makes it easiest to develop players and win games, it's not like they are using plays that other teams aren't using. They are simply better at getting their players to succeed.

Onto Tom Herman...my thoughts on this search have evolved quite a bit over time. Herman would be, IMO, the best coordinator we could hire. I would certainly put him behind the following candidates:

Harbaugh (Jim)

Harbaugh (John)

Sean Payton

Bob Stoops

Mark Richt

I would probably put him behind these guys:

Whittingham

Mullen

Mora

In the case of an OC with no HC experience, we at MGoBlog don't get the benefit of the most important pieces of the puzzle: the interview and references. If Herman comes to the interview with a plan--one that would have to include how he can win without his type of QB on the roster--and how he can build a program that can beat MSU and OSU, the most important piece being WHO CAN HE HIRE on his staff, then he could vault to the top of the "Plan B" guys. Players, coaches, and even some administrators will have a feel for how much this guy contributes to the success of a program, and if he's really good, he'll bring some damn good coaches with him.

This might sound ridiculous, but I have real concerns about Warriner (Kansas?) and Herman leaving OSU the same year--they'd be trying to poach some of the same coaching talent.

This is a long-winded way of saying, I really like Herman, but would need to see a good plan to be excited about him, and wouldn't be pleased with the hire until I saw his staff. That said, I would assume that if he was hired, he had produced a good plan with a good staff, and I would be hopeful...but I wouldn't feel great until I saw the staff, especially the DC.

I don't Harbaugh has told Hackett he's sure he's taking the job. But even if he has, Hackett should be looking for back-ups in a just-in-case scenario or in an effort to take pressure off of Harbaugh.

What I will disagree with is your second point: if Michigan is now looking for other options, they won't be caught with their pants down if Harbaugh says no. If we were not looking around, I'd be more convinced Harbaugh was the guy but more worried that if we didn't get him things would fall apart.

There is ZERO downside to looking around right now, even if Harbaugh has said yes (in principle). There is tremendous potential downside to NOT surveying the coaching landscape...as I said above, you never know what will happen, even if Harbaugh has said yes.

If you were the AD and Harbaugh had given you a verbal agreement, would you look around? I know I would. One thing I have learned running a business is that it's never done until it's done. Hackett knows that, too.

To be clear, my post was not a prediction that Jim Harbaugh will be hired (though that would be my guess). The point is that Harbaugh (or some elite NFL guy) is still enough of a possibility that the risks and costs of waiting are acceptable. Hackett understands risk--his press conference proved that. He's not going to wait a minute longer than he has to, and the longer we wait, the more likely a blockbuster hire becomes.

Brian is right on--no one really knows anything. The best we can do is attempt to decipher the intentions and desires of the players by examining what is actually happening. But never forget that even flat denials can be meaningless:

"I guess I have to say it," Saban said. "I'm not going to be the Alabama coach. I don't know how many times I've got to respond to rumor and innuendo," Saban said. "I have no control over that. I've stated what my intentions are and they really haven't changed, so I don't know what the issue is. And I don't know why people keep asking about it. What they talk about over there is their business. But what's happening here is my business and our business, and that's what we're focused on."

That was December 21, 2006. Saban was hired at Alabama January 4, 2007. In the interim, he actually said he wasn't going to talk about other jobs for the next five years.

My point is that what is happening is far more important than what is being said. Here's what's happening:

There is no indication Michigan is aggressively pursuing an available candidate (NFL guys are not available yet).

Michigan seems to be gauging the interest of several qualified candidates. This is a good idea even if Jim Harbaugh has accepted the job. Why? People change their minds, circumstances change, and maybe Jim Harbaugh just wants some pressure off of him or Hackett wants to take pressure off of him by looking around.

While even plain denials (see above) can't be trusted, Harbaugh has not denied interest in the Michigan nor has he publicly refused it.

When the actual hire happens, it usually happens VERY fast. Foley flew to Colorado and hired McElwain. Nebraska got rebuffed by Bert and hired Riley within 24 hours. Hoke was hired so fast in 2011 that he did not even have time to meet with his players. My point: If Harbaugh is NOT the guy and we know it, it's likely the back-up plan will be ready and will be executed before we have time to realize Harbaugh is out.

The longer this search goes on, the more likely it is an NFL guy gets hired. That would probably mean Jim Harbaugh, but it could mean Sean Payton or even John Harbaugh. There is a cost to waiting, and Hackett understands that. Every day without a coach is an opportunity for current players to consider and be recruited by transfer programs (under the table, of course). Every day without a coach hurts this year's recruiting class. Every day without a coach increases the risk that Oregon State or Tulsa could hire the guy you would have wanted. If Hackett is waiting, it's because he believes there is an elite coach who is worth the risk and costs of waiting.

Unlike the 2011 fiasco, each day we wait is an indication that there is going to be a blockbuster hire. If Hackett wanted Herman--or even Mullen, Miles, Stoops, Whittingham, Richt, Mora, etc.--the machine would already be moving. The fact that we don't have a coach or any indication of aggressive negotiations indicates that we are waiting on the NFL...and probably Jim Harbaugh.

While I want a coach hired YESTERDAY, the reality is that there is no reason to rush. Unless another top tier candidate on the Stoops/Payton level has definitively said they'll take the job AND that they will only take the job if they get it soon, then a Harbaugh ultimatum is just silly.

We are the last premier college job on the market. We have no competition from other colleges, and no one in the NFL can sign Harbaugh without working out a deal with the 49ers. There is no rush.

While Oklahoma was a passing spread for years, the past two seasons have seen a decided shift towards the run:

Year

Run%

Pass%

2014

60.11%

39.89%

2013

59.34%

40.66%

2012

43.18%

56.82%

2011

44.58%

55.42%

2010

47.73%

52.27%

OU ran a ridiculous 1,211 plays in 2010, and this year will be the first in a long time they run fewer than 1,000. To put that in perspective, Michigan did not run 1,000 plays under RR and haven't run more than 893 since Rodriguez left.

My point is that Stoops runs a HUNH spread, but they seem content to emphasize their strength, rather than commit to being an air raid. What's amazing is that they run from the spread, but rarely use their QB--only 89 (17%) of 526 rushing attempts have come from QBs this year. Compare that to 179 (30%) of 587 for Ohio State QBs.

Stoops wants an efficient, HUNH offense, even if it's not an air raid. That his team has run effectively from the spread with minimal QB usage is certainly a hopeful sign since our roster has QBs that really aren't all that spectacular as runners, though Morris is underrated. FWIW, I believe Morris' best chance of success is a system much like OU's.

Go back and watch those games again. We were in the shotgun in 2011 about 80% of the time. We ran inverted veer A LOT.

Yes, Hoke failed to get out of Denard what RR certainly could have, but there is no doubt that the offense largely featured Denard in a quasi-option game that was run primarily from the shotgun. There are notable exceptions--Iowa 2011, Notre Dame 2012--that were disastrous and memorable, but Denard was not under center all that much, especially in 2011.

Stanford is used as an example of a power running game above, and they are a pro-style passing game.

That said, you are correct: Harbaugh used some of the same principles the spread uses to design his offense, but in very different ways.

Stanford stacks the line of scrimmage and the QB literally counts the defenders on either side (left/right) of the center. Wherever the defense is weaker, they can run that way, and use traps and whams to bring more blockers to that side. By using heavy personnel with tight splits, he forces the defense to either load the box--leaving the passing game open--or keep safeties back. He also forces the defense to use heavy personnel, which, as you said, is NOT the norm in today's game.

I have zero doubt that he would continue to adapt these concepts to personnel. He finds a way to give his team the upper hand...that's what good coaches do. At the same time, he'll use these power concepts and "change the math" at the LOS by using traps and whams, which are basically plays where blockers come from unexpected places to open holes for runners.

Even though he uses a pro-style passing attack, his formations do challenge defenses to make clear pre-snap choices that can reduce the complexity of reads in the passing game. His QBs, by my observation, are usually throwing to the first option and not being asked to do as many progressions as a Borges QB, because he's using motion, play action, and pre-snap reads to tilt the field in his favor.

Michigan is one of the best jobs in the country, and UCLA isn't even the best job in LA (that would be USC). Also, Michigan is a much easier path to the CoFoPo than any school in the PAC-12 south, which may be the 2nd-best conference in football. And maybe he just doesn't see eye-to-eye with the UCLA brass.

I think his style of coaching is also better-suited to the B1G.

All that said, I have no idea who Cowherd was talking about, just guesses.

Brian is completely on point in his assessment here. Mullen is a very strong candidate, and, in my mind, stronger than the two guys who have already been hired.

When Mullen was first brought-up, I was skeptical. Brian (and in fact the whole MGoBlog staff, it seems) is a spread zealot, and there is a confirmation bias with spread gurus, which Mullen certainly is.

I turned to research. What I found was that Mullen is not only an offensive coach, but understands and values defense with surprising acumen for a guy I though might just be Spready-Spread-McSpreaderson.

Next, I watched press conferences and sideline video. Mullen has a strange shoulder posture that makes him look passive; he is not. He seems honest, demanding, and clear when he communicates.

My conclusion is that this guy is not only a good coach, but a decent human being, and that he has the humility required to improve on his methods. At 42, he is going to be A LOT better at coaching before his career is over.

That said, it's not all roses here. There are some very real concerns, despite the fact that Mullen is, IMO, the most qualified guy of the "up-and-coming" names (this means removing coaches of powerhouse programs and the NFL, like Harbaugh, Miles, Stoops, Malzahn, etc).

As Brian pointed out, it's taken quite some time ro reform the MSU squad into a competitive SEC West unit. Yes, they are the Indiana of the SEC West, but Mullen will NOT have a QB that fits his system on the Michigan roster. He will NOT have WRs that fit his system. We are an impatient fanbase, and I fear the time required to get Mullen's system in full swing (likely 3-5 years) may be too painful for a frustrated fanbase to endure.

All that said...I don't think U-M offers Mullen the job, though I do believe he would be a good hire and I do believe he would accept the job. If it's not Harbaugh, I think it's a name we haven't spent much time considering. Bob Stoops? Jim Mora? Mark Richt? Those would be my guesses.

I will say this: I am not even slightly concerned that we are going to secure a dynamite candidate, and, to be honest, I think Mullen is a worst-case-scenario--which is amazing because I believe Mullen would be a good, if not great hire.

There is a very real possibility that the new coach could have Hoke-like success his first season (assuming there is not too much attrition); the schedule sets-up nicely as well. I will be disappointed if we don't beat either MSU or OSU next year, regardless of whom we hire.

CSU is far from a one man show, and there are at least two players that you could argue are having a bigger impact on offense than Dee Hart. McElwain built an offensive juggernaut at a terrible school, averaging 35.9 PPG, 7.21 YPP, and 497.8 YPG.

While his success as an HC has only been at CSU, he couldn't have done much better than he has, and it's been far more than just Dee Hart contributing to that success.

Unfortunately, we live in a world where hurting peoples' feelings seems to equal having bad character. Harbaugh, like Bo, is honest to a fault, and will not sacrifice honesty in order to be sensitive. This is most definitely seen as a character flaw by many people, especially those who like to be coddled.

FWIW, I have zero issues with Harbaugh's character, although I do think his competitiveness gets the better of him sometimes.

Hackett spent A LOT of time talking about the importance of character in his presser. With that tone set, I think Les Miles is off the table. I don't see how he'd be able to defend that hire. With all of Miles' rumored offenses, some of them are sure to be true.

The board seems overwhelmingly supportive of Miles if we can't get Harbaugh; I believe today's press conference means we should start looking for another option that will make us happy.

Brady should be invited and I hope he goes. Hackett nailed it--Hoke embodies the character and integrity Michigan requires from its HC. He has done an admirable job helping young men grow into the Leaders and Best of tomorrow.

I don't think the OL regressed in any aspect this year. I don't think it was very good, but 2013 was a tire fire, and this year's OL did a MUCH better (still bad) job in the run game and the pass game.

We improved, but still didn't get to average, which would probably be our destination next year if this staff is retained.

Hoke should be gone already; that he isn't is a sure sign of an AD that doesn't get it. Every day Hoke stays employed is another tacit acceptance of the mediocre results we've experienced the last three seasons. Was not Florida classy, even in their early firing of Muschamp? Was not Nebraska classy, even in firing a guy who can't win less than 9 games? Hell, even if Hoke is going to be kept, today is the day to announce it. Waiting is ridiculous, and smacks of incompetence. Shouldn't Hackett have had his review complete, save for the OSU game? How long does it take to add one more loss into the equation?

Unlike 2008 and 2011, there are the pieces of a good football team here. The sooner we can establish who will be leading these young men, the better. We should have already made the statement that the current guy--no matter how likeable and honorable--is not good enough to be the head coach of the Michigan football program.